User:Maryannpalmer

Italic textThere is something excitingly different about Mary Ann Palmer: she's talented and determined to set the country music world on fire.
Music lovers recently experienced Mary Ann's mesmerizing persona and her "Heart and Soul Country" on The Nashville Network's ABe a Star Showcase.@ The international broadcast exposed the new country music duality of Palmer. With this appearance, the world learned what the Prairie View Family already knew. . . that Mary Ann is star material! Palmer is a former Miss Prairie View A&M University and received her Theater Arts Degree from Prairie View A&M in 1991. Affectionately crowned the `Princess of Country Music,' Palmer first appeared on national television when she won the Miss Collegiate African American title in 1990. In 1991, the public got another dose of her country soul style with her appearance on Star Search, and CBS's Souls of American Music. Mary Ann grew up in Belleville, Texas and is one of a few African Americans who aims to add some color to country. In the forties, Deford Bailey of Bellwood, Tennessee opened the door when he played on the Grand Old Opry and became one of its most popular performers. Since Bailey, others entering the country music world sporadically were O. B. McClinton, Henry Glover, Big Al Downing, Stoney Edwards, Charley Pride, Otis Williams of the Charms, and Ray Charles, to name a few. African-American women who also gave the music a shot in the arm include Etta James, Linda Martel, and Nisha Jackson. The Pointer Sisters also won a Grammy for their "Lover with a Slow Hand" release. Recently, Cleve Francis, cardiologist turned country crooner made a brief stint on a major label. Despite these entries on the scene, Pride has been the most recognizable and successful to date. The popular acceptance of Country music and Palmer's international media exposure, could only help to open the flood gates for African American singers. "Palmer's polished Country pop is only a spectrum of Country music," says Houston Chronicle's Rick Mitchell. Texas alone has its share to include Donna B, Mary Cutrefello, Camile Edwards (Stoney's niece), Tammy Dee, Rhoda Towns, and Linda Francois, to name a few. Not to be denied from the male’s point of view, we have Al White and Larry Callies who are making a name for themselves on the country music scene. There are others out there, but with these artist on the horizon, it is only a matter of time before the genre is impacted by this diverse talent. The competition is fierce, but Mary Ann is destined to make a difference this time with a Mo' Betta Country Soul style on her third album "Color Me Country Angel," to be released on UNITAN. Her first album "Lookin' At Me" carved a niche for her. However, her vision for success is more evident on "Mary Ann." Palmer emerges with a "new brand o' country," while   maintaining the signature Country & Western backdrop. The difference is her   blend of musical idioms, culled from Rhythm & Blues, and gospel, to create       her unique soul style. The vocal dynamics clearly embodies her Country Soul style with its cross-cultural and generational appeal. There is a full down-home country on the album from “’They Don't Make Love Like They Used To' to an Africentric Country R&B in `Doing Lonely Time'. "Palmer gives you a taste of what real country music is like," says Rene John Sandy of Class Magazine. If similarities must be made, she's the best of both worlds--African American and Country. She is a perfect symbol of the new country music duality and a true expression of her cultural heritage. Palmer's mesmerizing personae makes the connection between voice and touch. Johnny High (Country Revue) describes her as "one of the best female vocalists alive today." Mary Ann provokes thought with rhyme and reason. She exposes the closet country listener and converts those who usually say, "I didn't like country music, but I enjoy your singing!" These qualities make her an exceptional artist in a genre, virtually void of African Americans. Mary Ann's early influence for Country music came at age three and later fueled by Charley Pride around age ten. Palmer also admires Dolly Parton, Reba McEntire, Wille Nelson, Shirley Caesar and K. T. Oslin whose songs are staple in her repertoire. When ask, "why country music, there are no Blacks in it?" She quickly responds, "Why not country? Country is a rebirth of the blues.  It is about living and the human spirit, and I'm only expressing my cultural roots in the music.  Further, if Charley Pride can, so can I." Mary Ann is that kind of woman who was born to sing country. As Billie Holiday use to say, "No two people on earth are alike, and it has to be that way in music or it isn't music." Palmer's conviction is true to her inspiration, and holds true as an artist of destiny. Mary Ann wants to be to Country music what Marion Anderson was to Opera - the most recognized in a cultural genre void of African American females. Her goal is to receive the Grammy as Country Artist of the Year and an Oscar for a starring role. Palmer has numerous awards to her credit including the coveted Sammy Award as Texas' Country Artist of 1992, Best Female Vocalist for 1989 and 1990 at Prairie View, and Who's Who Among American College Students. She has appeared with Charley Pride, Dionne Warwic�ke, Danny Glover, Harry Belaf�onte', Barry White, The O'Jays and Sinbad, and the H. B. Barn�um Orchestra, to name a few. Palmer made her Nashville debut at Sweetwaters, where she wowed the crowd and put them in a hand-clapping foot-stomping frenzy. With her rendition of Dolly Parton’s 9 to 5 hit. She also performed several other songs for her audition for an impending movie on a Black female in country music. Mary Ann has since performed in venues throughout the country and points in West Africa—Ghana, Togo, Ivory Coast and Liberia, where she was featured live on the Liberian Radio Program for visiting dignitaries. Country music will not be the same with Palmer on the scene with her Mo' Betta "Country Soul" sound that is magically hers in "Mary Ann." This album is a perfect symbol of the new country music duality Palmer hopes that major record labels and fans alike will flock. Meanwhile, Palmer is enthusiastically preparing for a major "Color Me Country Concert" set for Summer 1997. The concert will feature several African-American Country Artists who are steadily making an impact on the music scene.